Replacement pickups for my Tele?

[El Fundo]

I’ve been playing my Tele a lot more lately and am not digging the stock pickups. The guitar is a 2014 FSR Ash Standard Telecaster which comes with Hot Standard Tele ceramic pups. The guitar itself is great for being MIM but I was tempted to get either a new one from the Professional series, or an American Original, but I’m thinking a pup swap will probably suffice. Having a hard time deciding. :/

Here’s what I’ve narrowed it down to:

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros
Fender Custom Shop ‘51 Nocasters
Lollar Tele ‘52s

[marcwhy]

Of those choices, I'd get the Lollars.

[omphalopsychos]

I haven’t tried the others but I have Lollar 52s in a tele and think they’re perfect. Extremely clear without being harsh and they have a thick body, not too hollow sounding.

[El Fundo]

Of those choices, I'd get the Lollars.

Both the Lollars and the Duncans have Alnico 2 magnets. You don’t think they’d at least be in the same ballpark? Lollars are almost $100 more than the Duncans.

[El Fundo]

I haven’t tried the others but I have Lollar 52s in a tele and think they’re perfect. Extremely clear without being harsh and they have a thick body, not too hollow sounding.

Your description is exactly what I want!

[jads57]

While those are fine choices for Tele Pickups, my favorite stock Tele p/ups are from Rob Cavalier Cavalier Guitar & Bass Pickups

You will not be disappointed and you wont spend too much!

If you are going for noisless Tele Pickups my favorite are from Beck Wylde(Bill Lawrence)Wilde Bill's Twin Blades

[entresz]

I highly recommend the Bill Lawrence/Wilde Micro-coils.

They are true single coils, however have far less hum than typical Tele pickups.
Very clear sounding without being harsh. The neck pickup has a really nice jazz sound.

[djelley]

The Nocaster pickups are perfect for country, but probably not as much for jazz. The bridge is very crisp and hot. Tons of twang.

[El Fundo]

The Nocaster pickups are perfect for country, but probably not as much for jazz. The bridge is very crisp and hot. Tons of twang.

Good to know! I’ll check that one off the list. Thanks!

[Skip Ellis]

Bill Lawrence Keystones - very affordable and sound great.

[ThatRhythmMan]

The Nocaster pickups are perfect for country, but probably not as much for jazz. The bridge is very crisp and hot. Tons of twang.

I could not disagree more. I have a Nocaster set in my Tele and they are superb for jazz. IMO these pickups are among the absolute best that Fender has ever made. Honestly, I think they aren’t really that great of a pick for what I think of as a typical country sound. The neck pickup delivers a nice, full tone.

I don’t like the Duncans at all. I haven’t used the Lollars, but Jason’s stuff is usually okay.

In case you haven’t figured it out already, my recommendation is emphatically for the Nocasters. They are in my top ten pickups of all time.

[Frank67]

IMHO you can‘t go too wrong with the Nocadters. They just sound like a Tele should.
The few Lollars I tried (Tele pickups not among them) were very nice. I would trust their pickups too.
dubcan‘s were hit or miss for me. I did not care for their Tele pickups.
Bareknuckle Tele pickups were very nice too.

[Doublea A]

There are lots of choices.

Look at:
Klein Pick ups
Curtis Novak
Rio Grande
Mojotone

Let me know if you want to sell you stock Fender pick ups

[Boston Joe]

I can't believe no one's asked this: What do you not like about the stock pickups, and what kind of a change are you looking for? Are you looking to get a stock Tele sound, or are you looking for something else?

[El Fundo]

I can't believe no one's asked this: What do you not like about the stock pickups, and what kind of a change are you looking for? Are you looking to get a stock Tele sound, or are you looking for something else?

Yeah, I guess I should’ve mentioned what it is I’m looking for. I’m not as interested in achieving a great jazz tone. I have other guitars that do that very well. The stock neck pickup is pretty dark and warm, being wound a little hotter and actually sounds pretty good for playing jazz. I listened to a recording of a gig I played last week using the Tele and I was pretty disappointed overall in the way it sounded. I really want it to sound like a Tele should. I found one YouTube clip with someone using the Nocasters, not jazz, but a wonderful demonstration of how full and articulate the Nocasters sound. I’ll find it again and post it. I have a feeling that either but Nocasters or the Lollars will be able to handle whatever type of music I’m playing.

[El Fundo]

Here it is

[jads57]

This is the problem when buying pickups especially. Everyone has their own preferences and tone they are chasing. The other issue is the actual guitar they are being installed in. Remember the pickups can only amplify what is their already tonally. And while you can say put brrighter or darker pickups in. The guitar itself has the most determination in it's sonic quality.

Best of Luck!

[El Fundo]

This is the problem when buying pickups especially. Everyone has their own preferences and tone they are chasing. The other issue is the actual guitar they are being installed in. Remember the pickups can only amplify what is their already tonally. And while you can say put brrighter or darker pickups in. The guitar itself has the most determination in it's sonic quality.

Best of Luck!

You’re right. I’m confident, however, that structurally this guitar is a very good Tele, despite the fact that it’s MIM, i.e Ash body, 3 brass barrel saddles ( I upgraded the saddles for compensated ones a while back). I have read pretty much every review that I could find on the FSR and they are all very glowing, many comparing it to a ‘52 Tele. Only the pickups seem to be lacking. Some people may like them but I think they’re a little too dark and lifeless sounding. I really am looking for a more traditional Tele sound, like what Bill and Julian Lage are doing.

[medblues]

I highly recommend the Bill Lawrence/Wilde Micro-coils.

They are true single coils, however have far less hum than typical Tele pickups.
Very clear sounding without being harsh. The neck pickup has a really nice jazz sound.

I made a Nashville Tele with the bridge and neck microcoils and a Joe Barden neck.

[ESCC]

+1 on Bill Lawrence, I have a 202 in the neck and a twin blade in the bridge, great pick-ups.

[El Fundo]

There’s a great guitar shop in my neighborhood called the Tone Shop that has both the Nocasters and the Lollar 52s. I like these guys a lot and would prefer to buy from them than online. So I think I’m down to those two choices. There’s one guy there who’s a Tele specialist and I will pick his brain a little. I’m leaning toward the Nocasters though.

[ozzeng]

Here's a clip that might help with your Lollar 52 set choice.

[El Fundo]

Went to the Tone Shop and was convinced by their very knowledgeable staff (along with my very knowledgeable friends here on this forum!) that the Lollar 52s were the way to go. I asked when they thought they might be able to have the swap completed and the tech told me today. I walked around looking at stuff and five minutes later I looked over toward the workbench and the tech already had my old pickups out. Thirty minutes later I’m walking out with my “new” Tele! They also charged me half for the install. Great guys there. Sitting here at home playing through my DRRI with a Celestion Alnico Gold and am marveling over the sound I’m now getting. The Lollars are exactly what I was hearing in my head. Thanks to everyone here who thoughtfully advised me.

[El Fundo]

Also, much more dynamic than the stock pickups. Very responsive to changes in pick attack and volume/tone settings. Very nuanced and articulate and yield a beautiful jazz tone on the neck pup with the tone knob rolled slightly back. What’s more is I feel very good about my $500 Tele no as opposed to spending 2-3 times as much on an American one. The Lollar 52s are world-class pickups and a perfect upgrade for any Tele, imho.

[Al_F]

Squier classic vibe pickups are crazy good & inexpensive